Why Healthcare.gov Had a Troubled Debut [Oct. 17, 2013]

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Thursday, October 17, 2013

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Fedscoop

As millions flocked to healthcare.gov to research insurance options and sign up for plans under the Affordable Care Act, many experienced major issues with the site — problems that have only increased in the two weeks since the site opened for business...

Todd Akers, vice president of public sector at Acquia, said when rolling out projects of this scale, it is crucial to ensure there’s a defined goal.

“Having a strong relationship with the development team will mean the best possible outcome for the project,” he said. “You need to iterate on the critical tasks. Too often, you see projects lose focus on the goal, and overall delivery quality can be reduced.”

The health care act is different because unlike similar projects, it is mandated by law. According to a congressional staffer familiar with the issue and who spoke on background, the deadline established by the law made the website launch more complicated.